Cuneiform_2.jpg
An example of Cuneiform.
Cuneiform


Cuneiform is an ancient system of writing that the Sumerians came up with. It was the first system of writing ever invented! It is made up of lines and wedges.

Definition


Cuneiform is an anceint system of writing that the Mesopotamians came up with. It was made up of lines and wedges. They would take a bunch of clay and pat it down into a slab shape. Then they would take a reed from the rivers. They would make the reed into a stylus and they would start writing.

Other information


The Sumerians are the ones who actually started it, around 3000 B.C. It first started off as pictures then grew to be lines and wedges. They wrote on clay tablets that they made into flat pancakes so that it was easy to write on. They cut reeds and made it sharp at the top so that it could be the perfect writing tool. After they were done writing on the clay tablets, they set them out in the sun to harden and then they could last forever! The first Sumerians made cuneiform for one reason, and that was to keep track of how much farm animals they had, how many died, and how many were born. Then over the years they started using cuneiform for other things. They even started using it just for fun!


External Links


[1]
  1. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuneiform_script